Representative Sylvia Garcia (D) joined Democratic members of Congress in Austin on Thursday for a field hearing examining shootings involving federal immigration agents across Texas, including the fatal shooting of a Houston construction worker and the wounding of an Austin delivery driver.
The field hearing was led by Rep. Greg Casar (D), Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, security, and enforcement.
Texas Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D) and Al Green (D) also participated, alongside Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Lou Correa (D-CA). Witnesses included Rachel Reyes, the mother of Ruben Ray Martinez, as well as representatives from the Texas Immigration Law Council, ACLU of Texas, and Texas Civil Rights Project.
Which shootings were examined?
Lawmakers discussed the July killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, the fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island, and the September 20 shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez in Austin.
Garces-Perez, a Venezuelan food delivery driver, was shot by an ICE officer during an encounter in North Austin. He was taken to the hospital and then placed in federal custody. He underwent surgery to remove the bullet 11 days after the shooting.
Rep. Garcia criticized the agency's handling of the incidents and the lack of information provided to affected families.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia: "People are being shot, injured, and killed by federal agents operating without basic law enforcement standards or accountability."
She added that Salgado Araujo's family had gone 100 days without answers about his death.
Casar also called for accountability, alleging that Garces-Perez was shot in the back and denied adequate medical care. Other lawmakers said the incidents warrant stronger congressional oversight of federal immigration enforcement.
What happens next?
The hearing was organized by Democratic lawmakers as a field oversight event amid calls for investigations into ICE's use of force. It was not a formal committee hearing controlled by the Republican majority. Lawmakers said they intend to continue pressing for transparency and accountability in the cases.
